Dataminer claims Half-Life 3 release date is not tied to Valve Steam Machine launch

Insider Gaming’s Mike Straw predicted that the rumored Half-Life 3 will debut with the Steam Machine. However, that’s not a view shared by Gabe Follower, a dataminer and content creator in the Valve community. In a new video, he explains why potential delays of the system due to high memory prices won’t impact the anticipated shooter.

Why Half-Life 3 may not wait for the Steam Machine

Gabe Follower claims that Valve doesn’t typically coordinate hardware and software launches. The company has tasked different teams to work on Half-Life 3 and the compact PC. Operating on distinct timetables, a postponed Steam Machine release date wouldn’t necessarily push back the game’s arrival.

The dataminer compares the current scenario to the history of Half-Life: Alyx. Gamers had expected the title to appear simultaneously with the Index VR headset in 2019. Unfortunately, the game didn’t surface until 2020 when the company offered it to owners of the hardware for free.

The same pattern could repeat with the Half-Life 3 and Steam Machine release dates. Only, it may be the SteamOS system that debuts last. While slated to ship in Q1 2026, Moore’s Law is Dead is among several insiders who are skeptical of those plans.

Rising memory prices have strained the budgets of desktop and laptop buyers. The higher cost of DDR5 RAM also threatens to inflate the MSRPs of consoles, including the PS5 and Switch 2. Given that the Steam Machine price is already projected to be higher than these alternatives, Valve could opt for a delay.

Still no release date, but Half-Life 3 remains on track

Without hardware ties, Gabe Follower expressed optimism that Half-Life 3 development is in its final stages. While rumors about an announcement in 2025 never materialized, he sees last year as a mirror of 2019. Like with Alyx, updates on other Valve titles have slowed, suggesting that all the focus was on the shooter. Progress is so advanced that some developers have reportedly moved on to other projects.

The YouTube Video also sheds light on new tech that players may encounter in the game. Datamined code referencing “HLX” in other Valve software leaks a new gravity system affecting how bullets travel. In addition, NPCs would behave more realistically, while real-time ray tracing is likely to be an option.